Iran Officially Complains About Pompeo's Remarks at Iranian Gathering

The Islamic Republic has described recent comments by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as "interventionist and baseless claims" and has officially protested these remarks to the U.S. Interests Section in Tehran. On Sunday, July 31, Pompeo likened Iranian officials to a "mafia" during a gathering of Iranian Americans and stated that the U.S. stands with the people of Iran in achieving their demands. The U.S. Secretary of State also emphasized "maximum economic pressure" and the goal of reducing Iran's oil exports to zero, labeling Iranian officials as "corrupt." He added that the United States is working to cut off the financial resources of the Iranian government through an international campaign. The title of Pompeo's speech that night was "Supporting the Voice of the People of Iran," held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, announced that the Islamic Republic has formally complained about this speech through a note sent to the U.S. Interests Section in Tehran via the Swiss Embassy. The Islamic Republic also deemed Pompeo's statements as a "violation of the United Nations Charter and the bilateral commitments of the U.S. government, especially the Algiers Accords," and has called for accountability from Washington in this regard. Qasemi previously condemned Pompeo's remarks as a "clear example of this country’s interference in Iran's internal affairs." He described the U.S. Secretary of State's positions as "hypocritical and despicable," stating that his words are "in line with the longstanding destabilizing and destructive policies of this country in the region, which violate its international commitments." Following the U.S. withdrawal from the international JCPOA agreement in May of this year and the re-imposition of secondary sanctions, Washington is seeking to cut Iran's oil exports by November of this year. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani recently warned the U.S. government not to "play with the lion's tail." In response to Rouhani's remarks, Donald Trump tweeted a threat to him not to speak to the U.S. in such a manner again. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also stated on August 1 that the U.S. will no longer tolerate "violence and terrorism" from Iran. He said, "As the people of Iran resist in the streets against their dictators in Tehran, our President has warned Iran. He canceled the nuclear deal with Iran and, as he reiterated last night, we will no longer tolerate the spread of violence and terrorism by Iran globally, nor will we tolerate further threats against the United States." Meanwhile, senior military commanders of the Islamic Republic, including Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, have also warned U.S. officials regarding threats to Iran and "interference" in the country's affairs. They have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in line with Rouhani's statements that Iran can also prevent the oil exports of other countries worldwide. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategic shipping routes in the world, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil, nearly 18.5 million barrels per day, passes. Despite the direct and indirect threats from Iranian officials to close the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Secretary of State has stated that Iran "must know that the U.S. is committed to keeping sea routes open and continuing the flow of oil for the entire world."